Hovenweep NM

Hovenweep National Monument is largely known for six groups of Ancestral Puebloan villages, a collection of well-preserved stone structures, including towers, kivas, and cliff dwellings, dating back to the 13th century. There is evidence of occupation by hunter-gatherers from 8,000 to 6,000 B.C. until about AD 200. Later, a succession of early Puebloan cultures settled in the area and remained until the 14th century. Archaeologists speculate that climate change forced these groups to migrate south into present day New Mexico and Arizona. While no one knows for sure why they left, what remains are the fascinating ruins of their villages.